I own a Skyline. Thats right, I brought it over from Japan. Its blue and yellow. Got a good deal on itonly 550 Yen. OK, so its not the real thing. Its a die-cast Tomy. But Im man enough to admit it. Sort of.
Then I saw Signal Autos peach-colored Skyline. Its cars like this that make me despise my choice to enter the low-paying world of journalism. Curse my pathetic take-home pay! Why couldnt I have picked something that paid better? Like dot.com billionaire. Or porn star (I doubt it would pay enough, but it would be cool regardless).
Do you remember the name Signal Auto? Of course you do. Another one of the companys carsthe 9-second chop-top 98 Civic Type R-appeared on our April 99 cover. In Japan, Signal Autos primary operation involves selling and dealing with used cars that have previously installed performance modifications. But Signal Auto has also recently opened up a high-performance tuning shop in Torrance, California. To drum up exposure for its U.S.-based operations, Signal Auto recently brought over another one of its cars from Japan: this Skyline.
While this 96 R33 Skyline GT-R might look like an all-out drag car, its not as heavily modified as the R32 from HKS or the R34 from Blitz. However, in Japan Signal Autos Skyline is street-legal. It also happens to generate 750hp. Yep, seven-five-zero and all-wheel drive. How would you like to have access to that for Friday-night drags? Me thinks Id like it a lot. Show all those jackals in Mustangs and Camaros a thing or two or, in this case, 750 things.
A stock R33 Skyline is listed officially at 280 hp. It might make a little more than that, but its still nowhere near 750. To get to that heavenly number, there need to be some serious engine hardware improvements. Lets start with the turbo components, shall we? The stock twin-turbo setup is gone, replaced by a single Trust T88-34D turbo. FasTrax Turbo was contracted to provide some internal turbo modifications. Theres also a Trust blow-off valve, wastegate, and front-mount intercooler, and a Profec B controls boost pressure.
To maintain durability in the face of massive boost, Signal Auto installed Trust pistons and connecting rods. On the top end, the 2.6L straight-six engines cylinder head has been ported and polished (by Signal Auto) and fitted with Trust camshafts, Toda Power valve springs, a Trust intake manifold and fuel rail, and SARD 1,000cc fuel injectors, which could be better classified as faucets. Additional equipment includes HKS adjustable camshaft gears, Twin Power ignition, a Tanabe turbo exhaust manifold, and a Signal Auto exhaust system.
Channeling this power to the ground is a virtually stock transmission. The only upgrades are a Kaaz limited-slip differential and an Exedy twin-plate clutch. Suspension modifications are simple but effective; each corner is fitted with Tanabe Sustec-Pro coilovers. The 17x9.5-inch Volk Racing TE-37s are shod with 275/40ZR17 Nitto 555R drag radials. Project µ brake rotors and pads installed on both front and rear provide the braking. Given all of this, I wonder if V-8 wanks would know what they were going up against. What would they think of the salmon paint or the blue accents? Would they be thrown off by the fact that the car has an unassuming rear deck spoiler instead of a mongo-bongo wing? The Signal Auto Kosquito body kit is definitely cool, as is the custom hood and air scoop. Theres no overdose of testosterone, here. The car looks just about right, I think.
And it goes just about right, too. Signal Auto says this Skyline holds the record in Japan for the fastest single-turbo/radial tire Skyline quarter-mile time. With the street tires, its best run was a 9.47 at 150 mph. Signal Auto has also equipped the car with racing slicks and drag-raced it here in America. Attending both NIRA and IDRC events on the East Coast earlier this year, its best was a 9.l9 at 160 mph.
If you have attended some NIRA events this season, perhaps you have seen Signal Autos Skyline in action. Right now, all Ive got is my Tomy die-cast Skyline. If I make engine and blow-off valve noises while pushing the car along my desk, it almost seems like the real thing. Almost.